A project was undertaken to develop a framework for identifying essential elements in various experiential education programs. Chosen as subjects for the investigation were the following three programs: Experience Based Career Education (a high school level program providing fully accredited community-based instruction in basic and life skills as well as in career development); Foxfire (a cultural journalism program reflecting the uniqueness of the local community); and Outward Bound (a wilderness experience designed to help students find meaning through group and individual encounters with unfamiliar environments that provide physical stress). After reviewing pertinent literature and interviewing staff of all three projects, researchers isolated what they believed to be the essential characteristics exhibited by the programs in nine dimensions. These were purposes, setting, characteristics of participants, learning strategies, student roles, instructor roles, products of learning activities, management and support factors, and project outcomes. Based on their findings, the researchers proposed 33 essential elements within the above-mentioned 9 dimensions of experiential education. Included among these were a realistic, non-contrived setting; provision of learning experiences that are individualized, sequential, and developmental; active student participation in planning and implementing activities; and formation of positive relationships with external agencies. (MN)